NHL: Darroll Powe ready to pitch in for Rangers

AP Photo
In this Jan. 19, 2013, photo, Minnesota Wild’s Darroll Powe skates during an NHL hockey game against the Colorado Avalanche in St. Paul, Minn. The New York Rangers traded forward Mike Rupp to the Wild on Monday, Feb. 4, 2013, for forwards Nick Palmieri and Powe. (AP Photo/Jim Mone)

NEWARK — Amongst a sea of red, white and blue equipment bags stationed across from the Rangers locker room sat one that wasn’t like the others. The stray black bag with white trim and green straps emblazoned with the Minnesota Wild logo differed from the others.

However, Darroll Powe was ready to fit in, even if his gear wasn’t.

The 27-year-old forward was acquired in a trade on Monday along with former Devils prospect Nick Palmieri in exchange for forward Mike Rupp.

With captain Ryan Callahan and winger Chris Kreider both nursing injuries, the deal boosted the Blueshirts’ depth up front and gave head coach John Tortorella a player who seems to fit his system perfectly.

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“With Powe, he’s a guy that can kill penalties, has played in the league, does a lot of little things on the boards,” Tortorella said. “He certainly adds to our depth in a lot of situations where I can move people around, so we’re happy to get him.”

Surely, the move brought a smile to the face of veteran center Jeff Halpern as well.

Like Powe (2003-07), Halpern (1995-99) is a Princeton alum, and with only two other former Tigers in the National Hockey League (Kevin Westgarth, George Parros), he was pleased to be able to join forces with a familiar face.

“We never played together, but we’ve been able to have a good relationship through alumni staff, mutual friends and seeing each other when we play,” Halpern said. “I’m real happy that he’s playing here, I texted him yesterday. I’m really looking forward to sharing this experience with him.”

Halpern has joined forces with a Princeton product before. He teamed up with former Tigers standout Chris Corrinet on the 2001-02 Washington Capitals for an eight-game stint, which turned out to be the only contests the winger would play at the highest level.

“I think I was three years into the league, so it was neat having another young guy and especially a Princeton guy around,” Halpern said. “Chris is a good friend of mine, so that was good. Unfortunately, that year wasn’t a good year for our team or for anyone, but I think it’s a neat thing to not just see Princeton produce NHL-caliber players, but to get to the point where you have a couple on the same team or in the same game.”

Although Powe is a proud Princeton product, local hockey fans likely know him best for his five seasons in the Flyers organization. He appeared in 208 NHL games for them, and although he didn’t appear on the scoresheet very often, he endeared himself to the fan base with his work ethic and style of play.

He finished second in the league with 91 blocked shots last season, and was a key part of Philadelphia’s 2010 run to the Stanley Cup Finals despite registering just one point in 23 postseason contests. Now, he joins a team that was two wins away from taking a similar journey last year.

“It’s a hard-working system, a tight-defensive, tight-checking system and that’s kind of my game,” Powe said. “Hopefully, I fit in well...I definitely try to make (shot blocking) a part of my game. Anything I can do to help keep pucks out of our net; as a role player, that’s what you need to do.”

Added Halpern: “He’s a hard-working guy who finishes every hit. I think he’s basically a guy that when you put him in the lineup, he finishes checks and does everything that is asked of him. He plays with an edge. I think he gives a little bit of sandpaper to every team he’s been on, and I would expect it to be the same here.”